Committee approves sale of narrow remnant parcel in Old Brooklyn to neighbor for $500

The Municipal Service and Properties Committee on Nov. 10 approved Ordinance 10 73 2025 to authorize the mayor's office of capital projects to sell a narrow remnant parcel at the terminus of Burn Avenue in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood to Greg Snadel for $500. Commissioner De Janeiro said the sliver parcel measures roughly 26 feet by 95 feet (about one-twentieth of an acre) and adjoins parcels Mr. Snadel already owns; he said Mr. Snadel intends to consolidate the parcel with his existing gardens and green space.

Councilman Brian Casey and others asked whether Mr. Snadel had previously acquired city parcels and why the city charges $500 rather than transferring the land without cost to someone who has maintained it. Commissioner De Janeiro said the city is constrained by codified ordinances and state law that generally require selling surplus property at fair market value and that the administration would provide records on prior transfers. City staff noted there are distinct rules for land-bank parcels versus non-land-bank surplus, and that transfers to public-benefit entities (for example, Metroparks) sometimes occur for nominal consideration when the public benefit offsets value.

Council members requested written citations of the state law and internal policies governing transfers and asked staff to return with documentation if members want to consider changes to codified procedures. The committee approved the ordinance; the transcript records the chairs statement that the ordinance "is approved" and instructed to sign the measure.

What happens next: The Mayor's Office of Capital Projects will complete paperwork to transfer the parcel to Greg Snadel at the stated price, and staff agreed to provide council with documentation about statutory and policy authority for surplus transfers.